After the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, he may not be the most popular choice in the U.S., but we’re thinking after the 2008 Beijing Games all may have been forgiven. We’re referring to South African swimming sprinter Ryk Neethling, who back on ’04 helped his country’s 4x100 meter freestyle relay upset the Americans, including Michael Phelps, to take the gold medal. And did we mention that it was South Africa’s first medal in men’s swimming?

Born in 1977 in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Neethling grew up in a nation that knew no Olympic Games. Because of its apartheid policies, South Africa was banned from participating in the Games beginning in 1960. Despite knowing he would likely not get to be an Olympic star, Neethling continued to train in a sport he loved. Then, in the 1992 Barcelona Games, South Africa was back, and Neethling’s fire burned even stronger.

Straight from South Africa Neethling headed to the University of Arizona; a campus he had never even seen in person. There he continued to excel in the pool. In addition to twice winning NCAAs in each the 400 meter, 800 meter and 1500 meter freestyle, he was the PAC-10 Swimmer of the Year four years in a row and NCAA swimmer of the year in 1999. Additionally, the University named him the Athlete of the Century for the school.

As evidenced above, Neethling started out as a distance swimmer. After swimming both the 1500 meters and 400 meters in Atlanta and then Sydney, he switched his focus and training to become a sprinter. His new persona dropped to the sprint distances (50, 100 and 200 meters) and added the butterfly to his repertoire.

Then came Athens, and the rest is history.

Currently, Neethling trains and lives in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is coached by Dean Price and continues to excel in the spring free events, as well as the IMs.

Neethling and his team competed again in the 4x100 free relay this year, and they were in that now famous heat where Jason Lezak, Michael Phelps and the rest of the American squad shocked the French to take the gold medal. This time around South Africa finished a distant seventh.

Neething also had a disappointing 100 meter free finishing eighth in his heat and failing to even qualify for the semi-finals.

Looking at these photos, however, we have a feeling he’s going to be, and already is, just fine!

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